The Las Vegas Raiders have named St. Ignatius College Prep head coach Lenny Vandermade as one of four coaches that will take part in the team’s 2024 mandatory minicamp as part of the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program.
In his first season with the San Francisco school, Vandermade led the Wildcats to a 7-5 record, advancing to the second round of the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.
Below is more about Vandermade from the Raiders website:
Vandermade finished his first season as Head Coach for St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco, Calif. in 2023 …Prior to St. Ignatius, he spent 10 years at USC and most recently served as an offensive quality control coach for the tight ends/offensive line from 2018-22…He also served as an offensive assistant from 2009-12 and 2014-15 before being promoted to tight ends coach in 2015…Vandermade served as the offensive coordinator for Santa Margarita High School from 2016-18 and as the run game coordinator/offensive line coach for Loyola High School from 2013-14…Began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at San Diego State (2007-08) and then served as tight ends coach at the University of San Diego from 2008-09…A native of Santa Ana, Calif., Vandermade was a prep All-American offensive tackle at Mater Dei High School before playing collegiately at USC from 2000-03, where he was a four-year starter on the offensive line at guard and center…Vandermade played in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens (2004) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2004-06).
Raiders.com
The other three coaches are currently working at the collegiate level:
- Aaron Fletcher – Abilene Christian University (Texas)
- Aaron Carver – Pierce College (California)
- Peyton Yanagi – Army (New York)
The NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship helps outstanding coaches gain exposure to NFL training camps and offseason workout programs.
The program’s objective is to use NFL clubs’ training camps, offseason workout programs and minicamps to give talented coaches opportunities to observe, participate, gain experience and ultimately gain a full-time NFL coaching position.
Designed as a vocational tool to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches, all 32 NFL clubs participate each year. Specific aspects of the program — including hiring, compensation and coaching duties — are administered on a club-by-club basis. The NFL does not mandate any elements of the fellowship to the clubs, but it recommends several best practices, including:
- Hiring participants for the duration of training camp, including all pre-season games.
- Encouraging clubs to hire at least two fellows with an offensive coaching background.
- Mentoring participants in the form of continuing and constructive feedback regarding their work while with the club.
